Rodent guard for gangplanks



Feb. 26, 1946.

c. H. MA1-50N VARODENT GUARD FOR GANG PLANKS Filed Feb. 11,v 1944 2sheets-sheet 1 ww kw 1. QN

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A. W- NN v \w\ All ,n A|| N HAI Jr I: ma MN o o .Q NS ,Q s www .t L, NNwww o o. NN. WN f/)N Q &\ N\ e |}%,\n\ Y 1 n N\\ Y -m 11 h .NNN 1 .l\Hm\ Y I l. NWI@ I Patented Feb. 26, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICERODENT GUARD FOR GANGPLANKS Charles H. Matson, New York, N. Y.

Application February 11, 1944, Serial No. 521,995

2 Claims.

This invention relates to a guard for the gang plank of ships to preventthe entrance of rats or other rodents to the ships by means of gangplanks, thereby preventing the loss and damage attributable to suchrodents.

A particular object is to provide in connection with the gang plank, ameans thereon which functions as a barrier or step and which isdepressible as it is walked upon and which automatically restores itselfto guard position when relieved of such weight of the walker.

The more particular objects and advantages will become apparent from aconsideration of the description following taken in connection withaccompanying drawings illustrating an operative embodiment.

In said drawings:

Figure 1 is a view showing a gang plank equipped with my invention, thegang plank being in longitudinal section;

Figure 2 is a cross section taken on the lin 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a view partly cut away, in cross section with the partsdepressed;

Figure 4 is a section taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 3; and

Figure 5 is a detail section taken on the line 5--5 of Figure 4.

Referring specifically tothe drawings wherein like reference charactersdesignate like or similar parts, my improvements are shown in connectionwith a conventional gang plank as used for ships and as suggested at I0.Such gang plank has a iloor II, side walls at I2 rising therefrom andhand rails I3 surmounting the latter. On the oor II, at suitableintervals, usual battens or cleats I4 may be secured.

The improved guard includes a step or platform I5 adapted for verticalmovement, the same having battens I6 at the ends thereof which areconnected at the top by a bar I1 whose ends have projections I8 disposedbetween pairs of vertical guides I9 secured against the inner surfacesof the side walls I2 as at 20.

A base 2| preferably is provided and suitably secured to the oor I I.Pairs of collapsible panels 22 are hinged together as at 23 and arerespectively hinged as at 24 and 25 to the step I5 and the base 2|. Itwill be noted that the edges of the panels 22 are inclined and hence thepairs of panels at the opposite sides of the guards are normally ininwardly extending V-formation and are urged to that position bysuitable expansive spring means, specically shown by way of example asU-shaped spring elements 26 whose terminals are secured at 21 to thestep I5 and base 2|. Such springs 26 at their bights, preferably haveone or more coils 28.

As a result of the construction described, the step or guard is normallyraised and in the position of Figures 1 and 2, thus constituting a guardor barrier to the entrance of rats along the gang plank and onto theship. It is also to be noted that the step and panels are relativelyclose to the side walls of gang planks at their ends so as not toprovide suiicient space for passage of the rodents therethrough. Inmoving on or 01T the gang plank, the walker will tread upon the step I5which will, under his weight, automatically move from the position ofFigure 1 to the depressed position of Figures 3 and 4, and aftertreading thereon, the step will be immediately restored to elevated orguarding position through the expansion of the springs.

Various changes may be resorted to provided they fall within the spiritand scope of the invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. In combination with a gang plank, a step slidably mounted thereon forvertical movement, panel means pivoted together, to the floor and to thestep, spring means between the floor 'and panel means urging the latterto its uppermost position, said panel means being at the front and rearof the step and including parts forming inwardly extending convergingportions.

2. In combination with a gang plank, a step slidably mounted thereon forvertical movement, panel means pivoted together, to the floor and to thestep, spring means between the iloor and panel means urging the latterto its uppermost position, said panelv means being at the front and rearof the step and including parts forming inwardly extendings Vs, waysprovided on the side walls of the gang planka bar carried by the stepand extending into said ways to guide the step in its vertical movement.

CHARLES H. MATSON.

